Head-over-heels Tim reveals he just can’t stop ­writing songs about her and he’s even persuaded Jessie to duet with him

Musician Tim Arnold and his actress girlfriend Jessie Wallace at the launch of Tim's new single (Photo: Steve Bainbridge)

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Eastenders star Jessie Wallace has been such a hit with her musician ­lover he says she’s the Yoko Ono to his John Lennon.

Head-over-heels Tim Arnold reveals he just can’t stop ­writing songs about the fiery Albert Square ­actress. And he’s even persuaded Jessie to duet with him on a song dedicated to her on his new ­album.

The pair performed the number, called Soho Sunset, when Tim launched his new single in London on Thursday. It includes the romantic lines: “I felt the April rain, smile as if it knew us/Strangers in the afternoon, lovers with a favourite tune.”

Tim said: “It’s also about drinking champagne out of a plastic cup and to me that is romantic as it’s about the moment and who you are with,” he says. “I wrote it and then brought it to Jessie and asked if she fancied doing it. It was amazing to work with her.

(Photo: Steve Bainbridge)

“I’ve written over a dozen songs about her since I’ve been with her – she’s like my Yoko,” says the singer, who had hits with Nineties Britpop band ­Jocasta. “I live for doing the things John Lennon would do and I’m sure he’d have done that.”

Now Tim, who records under the name The Soho Hobo, says he intends to release a whole album of songs devoted to the 41-year-old actress he’s dated for just over a year.

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“I’m in a relationship with an extraordinary human being and I would like lots of money one day so I can really be romantic,” says Tim, 38. “I’d buy a hot-air balloon and take my partner to work in it. I’d do stuff like that.”

The couple hit it off at last year’s British Soap Awards when Tim told Jessie how much he loved her portrayal of Victorian music hall queen Marie Lloyd in a BBC drama.

“I went up to Jessie and said I found her ­performance very inspiring,” says Tim. “I had recorded a Marie Lloyd song and she asked me to sing it to her. So I did... and I’ve been singing to her ever since!”

(Photo: Getty Images)

Tim has also managed to find happiness within himself after recovering from drug addiction. Ten years ago the rocker had an out-of-control crack cocaine habit before another actress from EastEnders came to his rescue. June Brown, who plays Dot Cotton and is a friend of his actress mum Polly Perkins, paid for him to spend three weeks being treated at a Thai monastery.

“I’m glad I’m through it all,” he says. “June is like ­family to me.”

Tim grew up in a theatrical household. “I guess that’s why I’ve always felt so at home in Soho,” he says. That’s why it became another inspiration for his new album alongside his year with Jessie.

Asked where he would like to be in a year’s time Tim replies: “With a bottle of champagne in a balloon flying over the pyramids. It would be nice to spoil the people you love.” For a honeymoon perhaps? “Now you’re being cheeky,” he says with a grin.